"What are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"...You're not really a law student, are you? You're an alien, right?"

I was drinking sweet engineering-school coffee with On Si-eun.

The lecture had been a success.

Professor Sati had given a big thumbs-up and promised an A+.

Not one computer science student objected.

Anyone who took an iPhun and then complained would have no conscience.

"This is a secret... but the aliens are at Area 51, a secret military base in Nevada."

"Really? There really are aliens?"

On Si-eun looked startled.

Like a cute little girl.

On Si-eun, who couldn't tell a joke from the truth, was the alien.

We didn't even have plans today, and yet she'd shown up in jeans and a button-down, like we'd planned matching couple outfits.

Anyone seeing us would take us for a campus couple.

I looked away.

I thought of Son Yu-ri.

We'd kept running into each other by chance, and a few days ago we'd gone all the way.

Her seduction had been hotter than I'd expected.

The sound of the rain had done its part.

I love rainy days, so my feelings had been running high too.

When she asked me to love her, Chairman Do's words came to mind.

If a woman wants it first, he'd said, go along gladly.

I knew Son Yu-ri had worked up her courage.

I could have turned her down, but her sincerity came through.

It wasn't as if I felt nothing for her.

Son Yu-ri was different from Senior Ye-rin.

I could feel she meant it, in the way she treated me.

And we crossed a hot river together.

Before dawn came, Son Yu-ri left quietly.

I offered to drive her home, but she just smiled and left.

She looked like every worry in the world had vanished, and seeing her made my heart heavy.

Neither of us ever said the word love.

Not her, not me.

Still, Son Yu-ri said she was happy.

I can still feel it: afterward, lying in my arms, she drew a heart on my chest with her finger.

It hurt.